Machine for removing heads and feet of fowl



Dec. 6, 1932. I L. E. LONG 1,390,394

MACHINE FOR REMOVING HEADS AND FEET 0F FOWLS I Filed Sept. 10, 19 30 rwd n-ronuzv.

iaszz 'lf/orgg 4 v Patented Dec. 6, 1932 V LESLIE E. LONG, oE CHIC GO; ILIQInoIs;

MACH NE FOR REMOVING HEADS AND EEE'r'o 'EowL Application filed September 10, 1930. -S eria1 Nb. 481,-0 01.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in machines for removing 7 heads and feetsof fowl, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved con struction ofthis character which will .be highlyeffici'e'nt in use and economical in manufacture. 1 l i n I object of'this invent on is to The salient V provide a sanitary device for expeditiously -'removing the heads and, feet of fowl which 7 will com-ply with the various health laws governingnthe handling and cleaning of fowl intended for public sale and consumption as articles-of food. 3 i a Another object of the invention is the pro vision of an improved construction of the character described herein which will expeditiouslycut off the heads and feet of fowl.

A'further object of the invention is the A provision of an improved device of thecliaracter stated which will expeditiously separate the feet from the head of thefowl after the cutting operation.

Astill further-object of the invention: is the provision of a device which will effectively and in a sanitary way Wash the severed feet of the fowl. A

' An additional object ofthe invention is the I p p .means ofbrackets19 is a U;-shapedi armQO,

which is adapted to; beengaged in notche's21 formed in the legs 13wh'enthe' table 18 is a provision of an improved construction which will expeditiously discharge the severed head and feet of the fowl into separate and suitable containers provided-therefor.

Other object will appear hereinafter.

T he invention consists in the novel com- 'bination andarrangement of parts to be here' inafter described and claimed; 1 i s V The invention will Vbe'best understood by" reference to the accompanying drawing, show ng the preferred form of construction and in which: a 1 Fig. 1 isa side elevational viewof a preferred form ofconstruction of my invention;

'Fig. '2 is a top'rplan view taken SUbStalh tially onthe line 2"2in= Fig. "1; i Fisa front'elevational view taken substantially on the line in Fig. l; and

Fig. 4189.11 enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing wherein a pre- I 1ferredrformofconstruction of my invention is illustrated, lo indicates a platform which is supportedfiby legs ll which are attached tothe platform bymeans ofesuitablejcom necting elements such asrivetsbrrthe' like 12'. At itsforward end v the platform lO is supported-in any approved manner suchas by legs l'3, 34and 16-0f a supporting structure embodied in the invention. vThe legs 13, 34zandr 16 are secured :togetherby means of braces 14. i i It A is: '.understood' that the legs 6 13', 34 and 16:and braces 14 may be ofany suitablevmaterial as willbest serve the purpose and inthe present instanceitheseporg tions are joined by means of suitable connecting elements suchas rivets 15 orthelike.

The top portionsof thefrontlegs 16am: beveled angu'larly upward from the front of my; device and the rear legs 13 'areo'sim-ilarly beveled, the rearlegs13 being somewhat: higher than the front legs 16. V Mounted oni the front legs 16 by means of the hinge struc tures 17 is aitable 18 which slopesangularly downward toward-the front of'my'device.

The hinge structures 17 may be iof 'any approved type' as will bestserve thepurpose and out of the position shown i-ndotted outline in Fig. 121: Attached topathe table18'by the positionshownzinsolid line in "Fig; 1

i l/Vhenthe arm 201s released from the notchesr 21zthe table 18 is moved upwar,dly;,on its attachedto the table in anyvsuitable manner I such as by means of hooks .23 'and wattached totthe legs 16 by lneans of hooks 24.

'EXtending betweenvthe legs 16 and 13 a each side ofnthe device are crosspieces '25" which. are secured to; the legs l6 by means of" suitable connecting elements such as rivets: orthe like 26,-to' the legs 34 by meansaofrivets 'or thelike 'and similarly attached to" of facilitating movement of the table 18' into A the legs 13 by means of rivets orthefililre x' i 27. "'Journaled in suitable bearings28 inrthe; Y

cross'pieces "25 is a-s haft2'9. on which is mounted for rotatory:novementthenewith a I circular {saw '30 vwhich revolvesin a slot 31f I ly extending strip 59 is provided at the frontv of the machine and attached to this strip by means of hinges 60'is a door 61 which provides access to the motor 33. Surrounding the motor 33 is a suitable housing'62. Extending verticallybetween the cross pieces 14 and the cross piece 25 are the legs 34 which; are

attached to the cross pieces and 14 by meansof rivets or thelike35. Gross arms 36are provided between-the legs 16 and. thelegs .34' and these arms are attached to the H legs'34 andf'legs 16 by means of suitablev con- 29 necting,.-elements such as rivetsror the like 37; Bearings38 areprovidediin' the cross arms 36 and iournaled'in these bearings isla shaft 39'which is attached to the motor 33 in aman- Q ner wellunderstood in theart. Carriedby the shaft'39f and rotatabletherewith' is a pulley .40. Extending between the pulley'40' and thepulley 32 i's'a belt 41." It is manifest,

- therefore, that when the motor 33 is actuated the belt 41 will rotate. the saw 30. In the use 39 of my invent ion whichv will be explained more fully hereinafter, the bodies of the fowl are drawn upwardly over the table 18 by the. operator fofthe machine who L preferably stands on the platform 10. The head of the "bird is sawed off asthe bodyof :the' bird is drawn up over the table 18. T he bird is then grasped by the neck and feet and the feet out off byg'm'eans of the saw 30. A'suitable switch structure may be provided at any con-.

venient. point on the device for operating the motor 33.

Provided on the table 18 is a guard 42 for' bracket 64 which is attached to the strips 59 by means of suitable connecting elements such the saw :30. In'orderto'eifect the separation of the feet and head of the fowl as the same 4 are cutfrom the body'of the bird and in order to 'maintainthe'device in a. sanitary I conditioml provide the construction which will not be described. InfthisconnectionI mounta sprinkler pipe:43 on the'table 18 by 150 means ofbrackets 44*and 45 which are secured to'the tablezby means of screws 47 and 48 'orthe like. -A plurality ofspaced apart openings 49ers provided'in the pipe 43 and ..water is led into the pipe43 from asuit- 55 able connection such asa flexible hose at 'tached to the end portion 50 of the pipe, the

sanitary condition by the flushing of the j :water from the pipe 43 thereover while the opposite end being closed by means of a'cap. A 51. f'It is manifest, therefore, that as water ;..is ledinto the pipe43 it. will be discharged through the openings 49 onto the table 18 which has'a ridge 52 formed on the upper surface andaround the periphery. thereof;

. Formed as depressions in thetable 18 are ,-similar troughs 53. which extend from a" a} pointadjacent the sides of thesaw3Q to .the

tion of the water from the pipe 43 and'the .54 and as the water flows downthe troughs front and lower edge of the table and it will be seen that as'the headof the bird is severed by the saw it will fall into one of the troughs and be carried down the trough by the ac.

force of gravity, whereas when the bird is grasped by the neck and feet. and the feet out off, the feet will fall into thejopposite trough and be similarly carried down the trough by the action of water and the force 75 of gravity. The trcughs 53 .terminate forwardly in spouts 54. Suitable containers may be provided under each of the spouts 54 for collecting the heads and feet of the fowl as the same arev separately discharged from the so spout portions 54. I i f plurality of slots 55 is provided in each I of'the troughs 53 adjacent the spout portlons 53 it falls through theslots 55 into a drain which is closed at;the.bottom, except for anj Outlet provided ithe'rein which will be described. presently. T hedrain 56 is supported by the twotroughs 53 and'a. pluralityhof;

pipes 57 which extend through openings profit-s Vided in the drain 56 and are secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by I soldering. At their upper ends the pipes 57" are at tached to the table 18 in any suitable manner 1 I such as by soldering, and the upper ends of 9?. 7

these pipes open'onto the table 18 so that as water from the pipe 43 is flushed over the table .18 at the sides of and between the troughs 53 this water is carried by the pipes 57tothe drain56.v The drain 56 has-a slottedopening provided in the bottom thereof and this opening extends across the. entire length of'the drain 56 so as to prevent feathers,-blood, dirt, etc, accumulating in the drain; The slotted openving 65 is aligned with a tr ugh 63 which is slidably mounted on and supported by a Fig. 2, the-trough 63 includes converging 'side walls 63" which extend "back underv the machine and provide rapid and adequate drainage intothe basin. 67 It is manifest, 12o therefore, that the table 18' will be kept in a flushing. action of the .waterfwill likewis'e facilitate movlng the severed heads and feet 12s of the fowl down the. troughs'153.

. To facilitate guiding-the waterv intolthex drain pipes57 I provide a transversely ex:- tendlng groove 68 which extends across the lower end of. the table and intofiwhichathelifi drain pipes 57 open at their upper ends. The groove 68, as best shown in Fig. 3, extends down the sides of the troughs53 so as to conduct any water not entering the pipes 57 to the slots 55. A similar groove 69 extends parallel with the groove 68 and these grooves effectively carry the water away from the table and prevent the water from the table from flowing into suitable containers (not shown) which may be provided below the troughs 53 for the heads and feet of the fowl.

It is apparent, therefore, that the greater part of the water passing down the troughs 53 will fall through the slots into the drain 56, thence through the trough 63 into the basin 67 while some of the water passing over the table 18 but not through the troughs 53 will pass into the groove 69 and thence to the slots 55 while any water from the table that may flow past the groove 69 will flow into the groove 68 and thence down the pipes 57 into the drain 56 and thence through the trough 63 to the basin 67 in the manner de scribed hereinbefore. In this manner the machine is kept in a sanitary condition which will comply with the various health laws and the inspections provided for the enforcement thereof.

When for any reason either one or both of the troughs 53 become clogged the table 18 may be lifted into the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1 andthis is acc0m-- plished by releasing the arm 20 from engagement in the notches 21 which causes thev springs 22 to tilt the table 18 thereby releasing the heads or feet of the fowl which may have become temporarily clogged in one or the other of the troughs 53. i

From the foregoing description'of my invention it is manifest that I have provided a machine which will fulfill the requirements of the various health laws governing the handling of fowl intended for public use as food and which while being simple in construction and operation will expeditiously sever and separate the heads and feet of fowl.

It isapparent, therefore, that I have pro vided a device which while accomplishing its several objects will be labor saving and efficient in use while being economical in manufacture. i

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification, without departing from the spirit of the invention; 1 I, there* fore, do not wish to be limited to the precise;

detailsof construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations, and modi- 'fications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent isz,

1. In a machine of the class described, a

described invention what supportin structure, atable pivotally mount ed onsairI supporting structure, means previding pivotal connection between said-table and said supporting structure, said table in I ture, means for moving saidtable' in a verti= cal plane including spring members, retaindescribed,

"tween said table andsaid supporting strueing means for securing said table in'fixedposition against the action of said spring meme bers', said tableincluding diverging trough members having outletsformedf thereim fluid supplying means including a pipe member mounted on said table ,'means providing con-r nection between said last-mentioned means and said table, a cutting element rotatably mounted between said trough members adj'a cent the point of divergence of said trough members, and supporting means for said cut-. 7

ting element.

- spin a machine of the one described.

a supporting structure, a table pivotally mounted on-said supporting. structure, means. providing pivotal connection between said table and said supportingstructure, said ta ble including diverging trough members hav-:

ing outlets formed therein, a cutting element rotatablyniounted between said trough members, voperating means for said cutting element including motive. power. supplying means, means providing connection between saidi operating. meansandsaid cutting element includlng rotatable means, andv support ing means for'sai d cutting element.

-4.-Ina machine of-the class described,"

a supporting structure, a tablepivotally mounted on'saidsupporting structure and inclined at an acute: anglewith the horizon- 'tal, meansproviding pivotal connection between said table. and saidsupporting, 'stru'c ture," said table including diverging trough.

members-having a pluralitylof slots formed therein at the lower-end thereof, said table having plurality of outlet connections ineluding pipemembers' provided therein at the lower end thereof, trough member slidably mounted on' sa-i'd supporting structure: below said slots and said pipe members, means in cludinga trough member for conducting a fluid from said pipemembers and said slots to said slidably mounted trough member, a f G.

receptacle providing a basin communicating Withsaid slidable trough member and mounts ed onsaid supportingstructure, fluidsupplying'means including a pipemember mounted on said, table at theupper end thereof, said 7 5 pipe ,members having a plurality of outlet V openings formed therein in spaced apart relationship whereby a fluid directedf-rom said pipe 'zmemberwwill be simultaneously dis: tributed over said table and included trough I 10 members, a cutting element rotatably mount:

I 'p1ane including'spring members, retaining means .for securing-said table in fixedposit'ionagainst'the action of said spring members, said-supporting structure including 'a' platform provided at'the rearof said table,

said table including diverging trough-memibers havingv outlets formed therein, fluid sup- 1 g plying means including, a pipe member ,mounted on said table,means providlng cons nection between said last-mentloned means 7 i i i and said table, a cutting element rotatably mounted "between said trough members adj a- V I cent the point ofdivergence of said trough members,.and supporting means for said out ting element. j

1 6. In a machine of theclassdescribed', a

tableincludi-ng diverging trough-members in- 40 clined from the'horizontal and having outlets at their lower ends, a cutting elementrotat ably mounted between. said troughfmembers adja-cent the .pointof divergence/thereof, r

" 1 means for supplyingaicleansinglfluid to said) r table and trough members, and means'for di 7 verting said fluid faway from said trough membersat apoint above said outlets;

7.. Ina machine'of the class described, a.

' pivotal table including diverging trough r60 members,,in'clined ifrom the horizontal and .7 ingfluid to said table 'and trough members,

having outlets at theirlower ends,- a'cutting' element rotatably mounted-between said" trough members adjacent the point of diver- 'gence thereof,-1neans for supplyingar cleansr means'for diverting said fiuidawayfrom said I v I trough members at a point: above saidfo'ut- -lets, and means forpivotinghs'aidtable and r 7 trough members in a vertic'alarci mz Intestimonywhereoflqafiixmysignatures- 

